Quitting Smoking One Day at a Time

[AgentFelix]

I took my last puff at 23.59 and I am not going to smoke for the rest of the day, or the day after that, or the day after that ...

Bit of a blow at 00.00 when I gathered up my ashtray, lighter and 4 remaining cigarettes to find I had an unopened pack of 20 hidden on my desk. DP now has the somewhat crappy job of distributing said pack somewhere in the neighbourhood. I was going to post them through a (smoking) neighbours letter box but I don't know her very well and thought it might creep her out.

Does anyone want to buddy up?

I'm going to make myself accountable to this thread. Support is very welcome.

DP has just come back and assured me he has left fags where I won't find them. I just hope that the person who comes across them hasn't just started their own quit.

*friend not fire

I have slipped badly the last two days , but starting again today. Haven't been able to get my refill yet but hopefully can pick one up today somewhere. Well done to those who are going strong

Can I join you all?? Day one, just bought an e-cig and it's been all of 2 hours since I had a fag. Haven't gotten round to chucking my ashtray yet.......fuck it yes I have, now in the bin. Smoked for about 20 years, up to 30 a day and just getting too expensive, too unhealthy and too stinky. I've never managed to stop before - even when pregnant with DDs. I'm now a non-smoker!!

Well done Gin! Which e-cig do you have? I tried a few before I found one I liked, imo the ones that don't look like cigarettes are best.

Thanks oopla, I will take my charger just in case. Already have 3 batteries but they only last me a day.

Am using VIP?? Which one are you using??

I've thought about speaking to my GP - but as I used to manage the smoking cessation team I really don't want referred there!

Hi everyone - I am now 104 days without smoking - started off with Champix but the nausea nearly finished me off - so went to one Champix a day and have been off them for two weeks and so far so good

This is the 4th or 5th attempt on Champix and the longest I haven't smoked.

One of the mantra's that helped get me through was "Having one won't stop me from wanting one"

I am really proud of myself. I smoked 30 odd cigarettes a day (not even 3 heart attacks stopped me) and I really didn't want to stop smoking (still don't). My son crying that he was going to lose me, like we lost his father last year, was what finally did it for me. I refuse to have one ever again

I also treat myself to something every week, using the money I save from not smoking. It can be a top I like, a nice smelling candle, a gadget - this week I bought one of those Microped thingies for my feet.

Keep at it - you all can do it
x

Tiger in 90 more days I will be at your stage, very well done!

Hi Gin and Andie. Good luck to both of you.

Two weeks today for me, I am noticing so many positives. My FIL just came in from having a smoke and he STINKS!! Not me anymore. Ive saved almost £150 too.

For those of us trying e-cigs, I've just found this board and am so excited! Vaping here I come!

HeartsTrumpDiamonds, that's kind of what I have in mind. I'm really inspired by what I've read on here. There have been a few failed attempts to give up over the last three years or so and I very much want to make a go of it this time.

Reading people's experiences here has really inspired me

Excellent Oberon

Day 16 for me and dare I say I think it might slowly be getting easier. Still on the heavy duty patches but only had 2 or 3 pieces of the gum today - and that is with my in-laws staying!

Is anyone else quitting with a partner? How I've not killed mine ill never know 3 weeks tomorrow, no injuries sustained so far!

So this is day one for me. I had my last cigarette this morning and went to the appointment at the NHS service. Had a good talk about strategies for coping and got a prescription for stage 1 patches. It suddenly feels a bit daunting!

Oberon, best of luck with it! It really isn't all that bad so don't don't don't give in! I will be stopped 4 weeks on Friday (after a long time trying, 26 years!) and it has not been as hard as I thought. You have to ignore what the cravings are telling you and put up with feeling crap for about 10 days then things improve. Accept it will be hard for a short while, and dig deep.

Once you start feeling the benefits, and it doesn't take long, you won't want to inhale poisonous chemicals anymore than you would want to stick your head in a gas oven and inhale that.

DH is a non-smoker (apart from the occasional cigar) so he is very pleased and being very supportive - it really helps. We would have killed each other by now if not.

Oberon, way to go. Take it a day, hour, minute at a time. For me the combo of patches and gum seems to work quite well, although the gum takes some getting used to.

Good luck, post here lots!

I am full of admiration for you all. Am still reading and cheering you all on.

My smoking cessation person has written to my GP to see if I can have Champix- the GP will weigh up my MH history and decide whether it's appropriate for me. Pretty sure the GP will give me the go-ahead, judging by previous conversations I've had with him.

My smoking days are numbered. But I'm pretty terrified about the Champix. Tigerbomb I would be interested to hear a bit more about your experiences with them. I had heard about the nausea but am also very concerned about anxiety/low mood, and possible effect on weight.

I am somewhat depressed already, but not 'clinically' so. My mum is very poorly and I assume it's this which is causing my anxiety and low mood. I am concerned about possible weight gain because I have disordered eating and an unfounded preoccupation with my weight. My weight and BMI are fine but I am pathologically afraid of putting on weight. I know that Champix is normally taken for 12 weeks and I am trying to tell myself that any side effects will only be short-lived and will be absolutely worth it for the reward of being free from smoking!

Gah...please forgive my ramblings everyone. Never forget that those of us who are still trapped by the addiction have nothing but admiration and envy for those of you who are free.

Waterlego, I'm giving up smoking, not nicotine. E cigs aren't recommended by NHS, but if you are happy continuing to use nicotine they might be an option?

Thank you everyone! Well this afternoon has been OK, but then I'm used to going a few hours at a time without a smoke when I need to. I think tonight will be OK as I don't tend to smoke much later in the evenings anyway. Tomorrow will probably be tough, but I have the patches. I know with me that a lot of it is habit, and it's likely to be the act of lighting up and having the first few puffs that I'll miss most.

Only one of my friends smokes (and not very much) so staying off them at the weekends should be OK. I'm most worried about work time because I'm in the habit of taking a break every so often for a smoke, and I'm the kind of person who needs that regular break to keep my concentration going.

waterlego, I've had depression on and off for some time, and had a bit of a relapse recently. I gave up on medication some time ago so no issues with NRT but I have regular counselling and I really think that quiting smoking will help me to think more positively about myself. It was a snap decision for me, but I really think it's one of those things that you have to feel properly ready to do, and sometimes other things are more important. There's no way I could have considered quitting a year ago, much as I wanted to And I've only just started!

Waterlego - I have found Champix different each time I have tried it.
There are three constants where I am concerned. Weird dreams, NO weight gain . Miserable - a bit like pmt

Nausea has been absent on one occasion but different degrees of nausea on the other attempts
Low moods - but I was never sure if that was because of the Champix or because I had stopped smoking. They didnt last long though. I had weekly meetings with my cessation councellor has I had recently had some problems dealing with the death of my ExDH and it was felt that I could do with some extra support (someone keeping an eye on me)

I was on half doses for the last 8 weeks of the 12 week course - mainly becasue of the nausea.

Good luck

oops - forgot to say - It also helped that my counsellor made me blow into a tube each week to prove I hadn't smoked. I cheated a lot in previous attempts and this one thing was probably just as important as the Champix. I really didn't want to fail at the carbon monoxide test.

My smoking counsellor also smoked - each week he smelt more and more disgusting. It was a brilliant way of reminding me how horrible smoking was

Tigerbomb can't believe they'd let a smoking counsellor smoke! Craziness

Oopla - I was surprised but I suppose I shouldn't be - My dietician and my diabetes nurse are very overweight.

Can I join in? Had my last fag on Sun eve, and having one of those days when I want to eat everything....going cold turkey....up to now its going ok, but have still wanted one.

A week and half cold turkey! Already saved enough money to treat myself to a few new DVDs.
DS is very proud of me which really keeps me going.
I do find myself wandering onto the balcony , taking deep breaths and fantasising I've had a roll up.

My second full day today (gave up part way through Tuesday) and it's been quite difficult. The patches seem to help, but I think smoking was very habitual for me and I keep coming across situations (e.g. after lunch) when I was just so used to having a cigarette and now I can't. I'm determined to stick with it though!

I've told my friends, especially ones who live nearby, so I have a greater incentive to stick with it . I've also been using the NHS app and it's amazing how much I've saved already!

Has anyone bothered with those e-cigarettes, are they the ones that have oil in them? Seen a few people with them and wondered if they were any good....i'm presuming they are 100% chemical free???